Shower curtain safety system

ABSTRACT

An illustrated view of an exemplary shower curtain system for increasing the safety of shower curtains is presented. The shower curtain system is useful for providing a device for a user to grab when entering or exiting a bathtub or shower stall and preventing the shower curtain assembly from collapsing causing an unsafe condition, the shower curtain system acts as a grab bar like system but utilizing the shower curtain thereby preventing slip and falls, additional injuries and exiting of the shower. The shower curtain system is useful in providing additional strength to the shower curtain for both the shower curtain and the support system for the shower curtain. The shower curtain system has a shower curtain, a curtain rod, one or more mounting brackets and a plurality of grab straps. Eyelets of the shower curtain, the curtain rod and mounting brackets are reinforced to increase the strength and support of the shower curtain apparatus. Further, the plurality of grab straps is both short and long. The straps are coupled to the shower curtain preferably by sewing thread. The short and long straps allows for a user showering to be able to grab onto the shower curtain to prevent falls and other injuries as well as getting in and out of the shower.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to shower curtains. More particularly, it relatesto shower curtain systems.

BACKGROUND

A shower is a place in which a person bathes under a spray of typicallywarm or hot water. Indoors, there is a drain in the floor. Most showershave temperature, spray pressure and adjustable showerhead nozzle. Thesimplest showers have a swiveling nozzle aiming down on the user, whilemore complex showers have a showerhead connected to a hose that has amounting bracket. This allows the person showering to hold theshowerhead by hand to spray the water at different parts of their body.

A shower can be installed in a small shower stall or bathtub with aplastic shower curtain or door. Showering is common in Western culturedue to the efficiency of using it compared with a bathtub. Its use inhygiene is, therefore, common practice. A shower uses less water onaverage than a bath: 80 liters (18 imp gals; 21 US gals) for a showercompared with 150 liters (33 imp gals; 40 US gals) for a bath.

Shower curtains can be used in shower or bathtub enclosures with twomain purposes: to provide privacy and to prevent water from flooding orspraying outside the shower or bathtub area. Shower and bathtub curtainsusually surround the bath inside the tub or shower area and are held upwith railings or curtain rods high on the wall or ceiling. Toaccommodate the different types of bathtub shapes, railings can come indifferent sizes and are flexible in their design. These curtains areusually made from vinyl, cloth or plastic.

Some people use two shower curtains: one that is inside the tub, whichis mainly functional or decorative as well, and an outer shower curtain,which is purely decorative. The bottom portion of the inner curtainoften comes with magnetic discs or suction cups which adhere to thebathtub itself. Other times, those with disabilities or injuries andrequire help to get in and out of the shower or bath tub, when they holdonto the rod or shower curtain to assist, the curtain rod can become asafety issue and cause a fall.

Shower curtains and the shower curtain rods they hang from often arerelatively weak. Most shower curtain rods use a tension spring to bracethe shower curtain rod between two walls. The shower curtain may betugged on, become wet or the rod may be pulled on creating hazards tothose using the shower.

In light of the foregoing, there is a need for a device that increasesthe safety of a shower curtain/rod assembly from failing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an illustrated view of an exemplary shower curtain system.

FIG. 1B is an illustrated view of exemplary eyelets of a shower curtainand exemplary curtain holders of the exemplary shower curtain systemshown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C is an illustrated view of an exemplary shower rod wall supportof the exemplary shower curtain system shown in FIG. 1A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “in various embodiments,” “in someembodiments,” and the like are used repeatedly. Such phrases do notnecessarily refer to the same embodiment. The terms “comprising,”“having,” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictatesotherwise. Such terms do not generally signify a closed list.

“Above,” “adhesive,” “affixing,” “any,” “around,” “both,” “bottom,”“by,” “comprising,” “consistent,” “customized,” “enclosing,” “friction,”“in,” “labeled,” “lower,” “magnetic,” “marked,” “new,” “nominal,” “not,”“of,” “other,” “outside,” “outwardly,” “particular,” “permanently,”“preventing,” “raised,” “respectively,” “reversibly,” “round,” “square,”“substantial,” “supporting,” “surrounded,” “surrounding,” “threaded,”“to,” “top,” “using,” “wherein,” “with,” or other such descriptorsherein are used in their normal yes-or-no sense, not as terms of degree,unless context dictates otherwise.

Reference is now made in detail to the description of the embodiments asillustrated in the drawings. While embodiments are described inconnection with the drawings and related descriptions, there is nointent to limit the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein. On thecontrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications andequivalents. In alternate embodiments, additional devices, orcombinations of illustrated devices, may be added to, or combined,without limiting the scope to the embodiments disclosed herein.

Referring to FIG. 1, is an illustrated view of an exemplary showercurtain system 100 for increasing the safety of shower curtains ispresented. The shower curtain system 100 is useful for providing adevice for a user to grab when entering or exiting a bathtub or showerstall and preventing the shower curtain assembly from collapsing causingan unsafe condition, the shower curtain system 100 acts as a grab barlike system but utilizing the shower curtain thereby preventing slip andfalls, additional injuries and exiting of the shower. The shower curtainsystem 100 is useful in providing additional strength to the showercurtain for both the shower curtain and the support system for theshower curtain.

The shower curtain system 100 has a shower curtain 200, a curtain rod300 and one or more mounting brackets 400.

The one or more mounting brackets 400 of the shower curtain system 100are securely coupled to a plurality of walls 101 by one or more firstcoupling devices 401. The first coupling devices 401 are preferably ascrew device, however other coupling devices are hereby contemplatedincluding, but not limited to, lag bolts, Velcro, nails, etc.

In FIG. 1C, the mounting brackets 400 have a plurality of holes 402 anda rod inlet 403. The plurality of holes 402 of the mounting brackets 400are configured to receive the first coupling devices 401 for securelycoupling to the plurality of walls 101.

The rod inlet 403 is configured to receive the curtain rod 300. Thecurtain rod 300 has a first end 301 and a second end 302. Two mountingbrackets 400 are configured to hold both the first end 301 of thecurtain rod 300 and the second end 302 of the curtain rod 300. The firstend 301 of the curtain rod 300 is removably coupled to the rod insert403 of the mounting brackets 400. The second end 302 of the curtain rod300 is removably coupled to the rod insert 403 of the mounting brackets400. The rod insert 403 is preferably a screw coupling, however othercoupling are hereby contemplated, including but not limited to, pressurecoupling, snap coupling, etc. The curtain rod 300 is preferably aheavy-duty curtain rod. The curtain rod 300 is preferably three-fourths(0.75) inches in diameter, however other diameters are herebycontemplated, including, but not limited to, one-half (0.5) inch, one(1) inch, etc.

A plurality of curtain holders 303 are both movably and removablycoupled to the curtain rod 300 significantly equally between the firstend 301 of the curtain rod 300 and the second end 302 of the curtain rod300. The curtain holders 303 of the curtain rod 300 will be described inmore detail when describing the shower curtain 200.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the plurality of curtain holders 303 are furthercoupled to a plurality of eyelets 201 of the shower curtain 200. FIG. 1Bshows the curtain holders 303 and the eyelets 201 of the shower curtain200. The curtain holders 303 are preferably “C” clips, however othertypes of clips are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to,hooks, curtain ring, rod clip, etc. The curtain holders 303 have a gate304 and a ring 305. The curtain holders 303 are preferably made of ananodized aluminum, however other materials are hereby contemplated,including, but not limited to, poly-vinyl chloride (PVC), high-densitypoly-ethylene (HDPE), plastic, etc. The curtain holders 303 arepreferably three (3) inches in length, however other lengths are herebycontemplated, including, but not limited to, two (2) inches, four (4)inches, etc. The ring 305 curtain holders 303 preferably have a diameterof one and one-fourth (1.25) inches, however other lengths are herebycontemplated, including, but not limited to, one (1) inch, one andone-half (1.5) inches, etc. The gate 304 of the curtain holders 303 arepreferably have a spring-loaded gate, but other securing devices arefurther contemplated, including, but not limited to, no gate, latchgate, etc.

The gate 304 of the plurality of curtain holders 303 are coupled to aplurality of eyelets 201 of the shower curtain 200. The plurality ofeyelets 201 are preferably reinforced, thus providing additionalprotection against tearing or compromising of any of the plurality ofeyelets 201 of the shower curtain 200.

The shower curtain 200 has a top 202, a bottom 203, a right side 204, aleft side 205, a shower side 206, a plurality of short straps 207, 208and at least one long strap 209. The short straps 207, 208 and the longstrap 209 are also known as grab straps.

The at least one long strap 209 has a first end 210 and a second end211. The at least one long strap 209 is preferably thirty-one (31)inches in length, however other lengths are hereby contemplated,including, but not limited to, thirty (30) inches, thirty-two (32)inches, etc.

The plurality of short straps 207, 208 have a first end 212, 213, asecond end 214, 215 and a middle portion 216, 217. The middle portion216, 217 of a side portion 218, 219 preferably has an opening 220, 221.The opening 220, 221 of the short straps 207, 208 may be may be usefulfor a grabbing of the strap 207, 208. The short straps 207, 208 arepreferably thirty-two inches in length, however other lengths are herebycontemplated, including, but not limited to, thirty-one (31) inches,thirty-three (33) inches, etc.

The first end 212, 213 of the short straps 207, 208 are preferablyconfigured to be twenty-four (24) inches from the top 202 of the showercurtain 200, however other configurations are hereby contemplated,including, but not limited to, twenty (20) inches, twenty-six (26), etc.The second end 214, 215 of the short straps 207, 208 are preferablyconfigured to be twenty-four (24) inches from the bottom 203 of theshower curtain 200, however other configurations are herebycontemplated, including, but not limited to, twenty (20) inches,twenty-six (26), etc.

The short strap 207 is preferably configured to be twelve (12) inchesfrom the right side 204 of the shower curtain 200, however otherconfigurations are hereby contemplated, including, but not limited to,ten (10) inches, fourteen (14), etc. The short strap 208 is preferablyconfigured to be twelve (12) inches from the left side 205 of the showercurtain 200, however other configurations are hereby contemplated,including, but not limited to, ten (10) inches, fourteen (14), etc.

The short strap 207 is preferably configured to be twelve (12) inchesfrom the long strap 209, however other configurations are herebycontemplated, including, but not limited to, ten (10) inches, fourteen(14), etc. The short strap 208 is preferably configured to be twelve(12) inches from the long strap 209, however other configurations arehereby contemplated, including, but not limited to, ten (10) inches,fourteen (14), etc.

The short straps 207, 208 and the long strap 209 are securely coupled tothe shower side 206 of the shower curtain 200 by a second couplingdevice (not shown). The second coupling device is preferably a sewingthread, but other coupling devices are hereby contemplated, including,but not limited to, Velcro, zippers, etc.

In the numbered clauses below, specific combinations of aspects andembodiments are articulated in a shorthand form such that (1) accordingto respective embodiments, for each instance in which a “component” orother such identifiers appear to be introduced (with “a” or “an,” e.g.)more than once in a given chain of clauses, such designations may eitheridentify the same entity or distinct entities; and (2) what might becalled “dependent” clauses below may or may not incorporate, inrespective embodiments, the features of “independent” clauses to whichthey refer or other features described above.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing specificexemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

The features described with respect to one embodiment may be applied toother embodiments or combined with or interchanged with the features ofother embodiments, as appropriate, without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spiritof the invention being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shower curtain safety apparatus for increasingsafety in a shower, the apparatus comprising: one or more mountingbrackets, the mounting brackets coupled to a wall by a first couplingdevice; a curtain rod, the curtain rod being removable and securelycoupled to each of the one or more mounting brackets; a shower curtain,the shower curtain having a top, a bottom, a shower side, a right sideand a left side, wherein a plurality of eyelets being coupledsignificantly near the top of the shower curtain; a plurality of curtainholders, the curtain holders being securely and removably coupled to theeyelets of the shower curtain and wherein the curtain holders beingsecurely and removably coupled to the curtain rod; and a plurality ofshort straps and one or more long strap, wherein the one or more longstraps being configured between the plurality of short straps, andwherein the one or more long straps and the plurality of short strapsbeing coupled to the shower side of the shower curtain by a secondcoupling device.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofshort straps having a middle portion on a first side, and wherein theplurality of shorts straps having an opening in the middle portion ofthe first side for grabbing by a user.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the short straps being thirty-two (32) inches in length.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the long straps having a length beingthirty (31) inches.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the eyeletsbeing reinforced.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curtainholders being a “C” clamp.
 7. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the Cclamp having a diameter of a ring of one and one-fourth (1.25) inches.8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the C clamp having a length beingthree (3) inches.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the curtainholders being made of an anodized aluminum.
 10. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the curtain rod being reinforced.
 11. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the mounting brackets having a rod insert.
 12. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the rod insert being screw-like.
 13. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the first coupling device being a screw.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the second coupling device being sewingthread.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curtain rod having adiameter being three-fourths (0.75) inches.
 16. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the short straps being twelve (12) inches from the right sideof the shower curtain.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shortstraps being twelve (12) inches from the left side of the showercurtain.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the long straps beingtwelve (12) inches from the short straps.
 19. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the short straps being twenty-four (24) inches from the top ofthe shower curtain.
 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shortstraps being twenty-four (24) inches from the bottom of the showercurtain.